Bracket Fungus

Polypores, also called bracket or shelf fungi, are a group of fungi that form large fruiting bodies called conks, typically woody and circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, with pores or tubes on the underside. Conks can occur singly or in close rows, ranging up to dozens of layers weighing several hundred pounds, and most species live on tree trunks or branches, consuming the wood, though some soil-dwelling species form mycorrhizal relationships with trees instead. Alongside related corticioid fungi, polypores are among the most important agents of wood decay, playing a significant role in forest nutrient cycling.